Garden tool



May w, w. J. F HlGBh-EE 1:3:

GARDEN TOOL Filed Dec. 16, 1935 INVENTOR. Va 2776.5 F/Q'qbee ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved garden tool designed to remove the turf and form a trench alongside of a walk so as to prevent the sod from creeping over the edge of the walk and so as to form a neat edge therealong.

An object is to provide such a tool which is simple, inexpensive, and of durable construction which is of such a character that it may be rapidly operated to form a neat, straight, trench alongside a walk or driveway.

A meritorious feature resides in the provision of such a tool having a trench forming portion which is characterized in that each side wall is provided with an outwardly extending horizontal flange like element which measures the depth of the trench and which elements are adapted to ride over the turf or sidewalk along which the trench is being formed.

The tool is so shaped that the turf removed in the forming of the trench is caused to move easily upwardly for removal from the trench. The handle of the tool may be so connected therewith that it may be quickly swung from a position extending outwardly from one end of the tool body to a position extending outwardly from the opposite end thereof and in this construction each end of the trough shaped portion of the tool body is adapted to be used as a cutting edge.

Various other objects, advantages, and meritorious features of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation partly in section showing my improved tool in use,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the tool shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of my invention in side elevation, the tool body being partly broken away, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the tool body shown in Fig. 3.

In tools of this character it is desirable. that the construction be such that the trench formed is even and uniform throughout its length and it is likewise desirable that the tool be capable of operation at a. rapid rate so that too much time will not be consumed in the formation of such trench.

In the improved tool here illustrated there is a handle portion l 0 which would be of the length desired and which is adapted to be received Within a split shank 12 of the tool body. Any conventional method of securing the handle in place may be employed.

The body of the tool is provided with a channel or trough shaped turf trenching portion 14. This is shown as sharpened at its forward edge in Figs. 1 and 2 as at 16 while in Fig. 3 it is shown as sharpened at each end as indicated at 16. This trough shaped portion has each side wall turned outwardly forming a horizontal flange. One side wall is indicated as l8 and is a vertical wall. The flange carried by this side wall is indicated as 20. It is relatively narrow. It is adapted to ride over the top of a walk or driveway such as is shown in Fig. l at 20. The opposite side wall slopes outwardly upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 and is indicated as 24. This side wall is turned outwardly forming a horizontal flange 26. This flange rides over the top of the ground adjacent to the trench. It is a relatively wide flange as compared with the width of the flange 20.

Each flange is curved upwardly as at 28 at its forward end. The flange 26 is curved upwardly to a substantially greater extent than the flange 20 and is also curved upwardly along its outer edge as at 30'. The bottom of the trough shaped portion slopes upwardly rearwardly so that a section of turf which is severed thereby from the ground may roll upwardly rearwardly out of the trench. The side wall 18 is held against the wall of the drive in the operation of the tool as shown in Fig. 2 so that a trench of the shape indicated is formed along such walk or drive.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 there are provided spaced apart upwardly extending shoulders 32 which are apertured as at 34 to receive a pivot pin 36 which secures the handle thereto. The shank 12 of the handle is provided with a pair of oppositely extending ears 38. These ears are adapted to bear against the top of the trough shaped portion as shown in Fig. 3. One ear bears thereagainst when the handle extends outwardly from one end of the tool. The other ear bears thereagainst when the handle extends outwardly from the other end of the tool. In this modified form the handle may be swung from the position shown in solid line in Fig. 3 to that shown in dotted line so that either end of the tool body may be used and the approach may be made from either direction.

What I claim is:

1. A garden tool of the class described provided with a handle and having a trough shaped turf trenching portion sharpened at one end and having each side wall turned outwardly at its upper edge providing a horizontal flange, each flange having its forward end curved upwardly.

2. A garden tool of the class described provided with a handle and having a trough shaped turf trenching portion sharpened at one end and provided with a handle, the side walls of said trough shaped portion provided with outwardly extending horizontal flanges spaced above the bottom of the trough shaped portion, one of said flanges being curved upwardly at its forward end.

3. A garden tool of the class described provided with a handle and having a trough shaped turf trenching portion sharpened at one end and provided with a handle, the side walls of said trough shaped portion provided with outwardly extending horizontal flanges spaced above the bottom of the trough shaped portion, one of said flanges being substantially wider than the other and each flange being curved upwardly at its forward end.

4. A garden tool of the class described provided with a handle and having a trough shaped turf trenching portion sharpened at one end and provided with a handle, the side walls of said trough shaped portion provided with outwardly extending horizontal flanges spaced above the bottom of the trough shaped portion, one of said flanges being curved upwardly at its forward end and along its outer edge.

5. A garden tool of the class described provided with a handle and having a trough shaped turf trenching portion sharpened at one end havin one vertical side wall and one outwardly upwardly sloping side wall, each side wall provided with an outwardly extending horizontal flange curved upwardly at its forward end.

6. A garden tool of the class described comprising a trough shaped sod trenching portion sharpened at each end and a handle pivotally connected therewith to be swung from a position extending upwardly and outwardly away from one end to a corresponding position with respect to the opposite end, said handle having oppositely directed ears, one ear adapted to bear against the trough shaped portion when the handle extends outwardly therefrom at one end, the other ear adapted to bear against the trough shaped portion when the handle extends outwardly therefrom at the opposite end.

JAMES F. HIGBEE. 

